Time Splitters 2 (TS2) is the second game from developers Free Radical Design. And when you play TS2 you can tell just whom Free Radical Design is (Mostly former Goldeneye and Perfect Dark programmers from rare). And with their repetoire of great titles, you can more than expect greatness from this company.
What's Good: Let me start off by saying, this game rocks. Now, the controls for TS2 are near perfect, the offer excellent maneuvering capability in the games more enclosed areas (and there are tons of them). I found that the default control scheme for TS2 is good, but you should try to tweak the controls to your personal preferences. (Setting L3 and R3 as your zooming buttons makes for much easier sniping of enemies and pesky security cameras while allowing you to continue to move freely)
What's Bad: It can at times (On the PS2 and Game Cube) be troublesome because of the controllers for both platforms being of a small size. It handled much better on the X-BOX controller, but aiming was more of a pain.
What's Good: Once again the game play is a tried and true combination of Balls-to-the-walls action and slick stealth. Whether you go in guns blazing or sneak around making head shots through any one of the game's 12 levels you will enjoy a surprisingly smart AI that adapts to your tactics as you play. Also the game play has been extended (As with the first Time Splitters (TS). If at any time you say, "I can make a better level than that!" now you can with the improved Level editor that comes on the disc. Just like in the first TS you can make your own maps for you and your friends to battle in. The editor comes with tons of hallways, rooms, and options so you can truly make the level your own. (Just as in TS)
What's Bad: The game play is a little tired, and for anyone who has played the original TS there isn't really anything new here. Also if you have played Halo (X-BOX) or Quake 3 (DREAMCAST, PC, and PS2) then the "Balls-to-the-walls action" can seem pretty tame by comparison. Plus, while the level editor is very handy and very easy to use, it doesn't offer the kind of locales that are needed for making really cool levels (At least not in my opinion).
What's Good: TS2 is a beautiful game; not a polygon is out of place on the already fantastic player models. The almost Cartoon-like design enhances the feel of the game quite well (As well as adds a certain amount of artistic style that has been lacking in FPS in recent years). The levels themselves do convey some of the flair that the characters have, but they are mostly "Real-World" equivalents. (Though they did throw in the Streets Level from Perfect Dark and called it Neo Tokyo 2049)
What's Bad: As a downside these somewhat cartoony graphics may turn off the hardcore gamers out there. And even though I am a man I found some of the female characters to be a little too "Dirty" and this style may turn off many female gamers. Also while the levels are varied, they are flooded with hallways, corridors and enclosed areas. Even the outdoor sections feel cramped.
What's Good: With the multiple game play modes such as Co-op, Multi-Player, Arcade, Story, and online (PS2 only) TS2 offers a lot of bang for YouŐre buck. Plus, if you should get bored of the levels that are already available (And I did really fast) you can make your own with the aforementioned level editor. (But no On-Line use of your edit-maps, oh well maybe in TS3)
What's Bad: Along with having some very tediously cramped levels TS2 also has problems in how it adapts to your playing skill. Along with being very smart the computer will also up enemy life bars and also give them more ammunition. Though this can actually lend to the progression of the difficulty, it mostly just annoys and leaves you feeling cheated.
What's Good: The story follows two human freedom fighters living in the distant future. The Time Splitters have decided that the human race cannot be conquered in the current time. So they construct a time machine (That looks oddly like the Stargate from the movie of the same name) so as to eradicate humanity in the past. However our two heroes get the jump on the Time Splitters forcing them to retreat into the time portal (Taking with them pieces of a time crystal needed to destroy the time machine). In true form our heroes follow the Time Splitters into the portal, assuming the roles (And physical appearance) of people from the past. ItŐs a classic 50's sci-fi epic with a few twists.
WhatŐs Bad: ItŐs a classic 50's sci-fi epic with a few twists.
Overall: TS2 will hardly revolutionize the FPS genre, but it does offer enough to make it stand out against the other more testosterone driven games that populate the market right now. Fun, quirky, and enough style and flair to make Disney jealous, TS2 is just what the doctor ordered.
I give Time Splitters 2 : 4˝ out of 5
- KEVIN B.
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